Hustle
A gritty, sweat-soaked love letter to basketball where the rhythmic squeak of sneakers meets the heartbeat of redemption. It blends the raw intimacy of cinéma vérité with the soaring adrenaline of an underdog anthem, visualizing the "hustle" not just as effort, but as a survival instinct.
Hustle
Hustle

"Are you obsessed with this game?"

03 June 2022 United States of America 117 min ⭐ 7.7 (2,748)
Director: Jeremiah Zagar
Cast: Adam Sandler, Juancho Hernangómez, Queen Latifah, Anthony Edwards, Kenny Smith
Drama Comedy
Obsession vs. Talent Fatherhood and Mentorship Resilience and Mental Toughness The Business of Sport
Budget: $21,000,000

Hustle - Characters & Cast

Character Analysis

Stanley Sugerman

Adam Sandler

Archetype: The Mentor / The Wounded Healer
Key Trait: Relentless perseverance

Motivation

To prove he is more than just a scout and to leave a legacy in the game he loves.

Character Arc

Starts as a jaded scout fearing he's wasted his life. Through Bo, he reignites his passion for coaching and confronts his past guilt over a drunk-driving accident.

Bo Cruz

Juancho Hernangómez

Archetype: The Diamond in the Rough
Key Trait: Protective aggression

Motivation

To provide a better life for his daughter and mother.

Character Arc

Transforms from a hot-tempered streetballer protecting his family into a disciplined professional who can master his emotions.

Vince Merrick

Ben Foster

Archetype: The Corporate Antagonist
Key Trait: Insecurity

Motivation

To prove he is smarter than his father and the "old guard" of basketball.

Character Arc

Remains static as the embodiment of nepotism and ego. His refusal to see value in Bo ultimately leads to his loss of control over the team.

Kermit Wilts

Anthony Edwards

Archetype: The Rival / The Psychological Villain
Key Trait: Ruthless arrogance

Motivation

To maintain his status as the Alpha dog.

Character Arc

Serves as the physical and mental barrier Bo must overcome. He represents the elite, arrogant talent that dominates the league.

Cast

Adam Sandler as Stanley Sugerman
Juancho Hernangómez as Bo Cruz
Queen Latifah as Teresa Sugerman
Anthony Edwards as Kermit Wilts
Kenny Smith as Leon
Ben Foster as Vince Merrick
Robert Duvall as Rex Merrick
Heidi Gardner as Kat Merrick
María Botto as Paola
Jaleel White as Blake - VP of Player Personnel
Moritz Wagner as Haas
Jordan Hull as Alex Sugerman
Ainhoa Pillet as Lucia
Boban Marjanović as Big Serbian - Dimitri Jovanovic
Elvin Rodriguez as Mr. Everything